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Physical performance measures and polypharmacy among hospitalized older adults: Results from the crime study

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of polypharmacy and physical performance measures in a sample of elderly patients aged ≥65 years admitted to acute care hospitals. Design, setting and participants: Prospective study conducted among 1123 hospitalized older adults participating to the CRiteria to Assess Appropriate Medication Use among Elderly Complex Patients (CRIME) project. Measurements: Physical performance was measured at hospital admission by the 4-meter walking speed (WS) and the grip strength (GS). Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥10 drugs during hospital stay. Results: Mean age of 1123 participants was 81.5±7.4 years and 576 (51.3%) were on polypharmacy. Prevalence of polypharmacy was higher in patients with low WS and GS. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the highest tertile of WS were less likely to be on polypharmacy as compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.35–0.96). Similarly, participants in the highest tertile of GS had a significantly lower likelihood of polypharmacy as compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.36–0.84). When examined as continuous variables, WS and GS were inversely associated with polypharmacy (WS: OR 0.77 per 1 SD increment; 95% CI 0.60–0.98; GS: OR 0.71 per 1 SD increment; 95% CI 0.56–0.90). Conclusion: Among hospitalized older adults WS and GS are inversely related to polypharmacy. These measures should be incorporated in standard assessment of in-hospital patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gerontology, Neuroscience and Orthopedics, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Federica Sganga, D. L. Vetrano, R. Bernabei & G. Onder

  2. Section of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    S. Volpato

  3. Geriatrics, Research Hospital of Ancona, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy

    A. Cherubini

  4. Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia Medical School, Perugia, Italy

    C. Ruggiero

  5. Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology, Italian National Research Center on Aging (INRCA), Cosenza, Italy

    A. Corsonello

  6. Biostatistical Center, Italian National Research Centre on Aging (INRCA), Ancona, Italy

    P. Fabbietti & F. Lattanzio

Authors
  1. Federica Sganga
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  2. D. L. Vetrano
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  3. S. Volpato
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  4. A. Cherubini
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  5. C. Ruggiero
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  6. A. Corsonello
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  7. P. Fabbietti
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  8. F. Lattanzio
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  9. R. Bernabei
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  10. G. Onder
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Correspondence to Federica Sganga.

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Sganga, F., Vetrano, D.L., Volpato, S. et al. Physical performance measures and polypharmacy among hospitalized older adults: Results from the crime study. J Nutr Health Aging 18, 616–621 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-014-0029-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-014-0029-z

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